Portadown interim boss Paul Doolin boosted his squad last night with a double signing of English midfielders Josh Chatee and Connor Leak-Blunt.
Teenager Leak-Blunt came through Leeds United’s Academy before moving on to Sheffield United and more recently Belper Town.
Chatee, who was at Reading as a teenager, has spent the past five years in Sweden where he played for Stode IF and IFK Lulea.
The 24-year-old told the Portadown website: “I’m really excited to have joined. It’s a good league and a club with a good history.
“I hope to bring a good energy to the team and help Portadown stay in the division.”
Monday’s arrivals are a boost for Doolin after he warned his players at the weekend that they’re running out of time to secure their Premiership status.
Saturday’s heavy 4-0 defeat to Larne at Inver Park leaves Portadown languishing in the play-off spot and in serious danger in the drop zone.
With only 13 games left, the Shamrock Reds lie just five points above basement club Warrenpoint Town who have a crucial game in hand.
Carrick Rangers are 10 points above them in 10th, while ninth-placed Dungannon Swifts are 12 points better off.
After the Larne loss, Doolin told Portadown’s YouTube channel : “We need to have a look and say to ourselves, what’s the story?
“Players need to look.. I’ve been here since Monday.. there’s something, they’ve won two games out of 25… We’ve got to be honest about ourselves.
"Everybody. The players with each other, everybody. Ask themselves ‘am I doing the right things?’”
With time running out, Doolin aims to be within touching distance of the clubs above when the league splits into a top and bottom six at the end of March.
Portadown have eight pre-split games remaining to close a gap.
“Our main objective is when we’re playing people near us when the split comes.. but there mightn’t be that many near us the way results are going,” he warned.
Portadown, who parted company with Matthew Tipton just over a week ago, have taken just one point from their last six league games.
Chatee and Leak-Blunt, whose deal is subject to international clearance, join former Bohs midfielder Katlego Mashigo and ex-Coventry City striker Billy Stedman as January arrivals at Shamrock Park.
